Taking care of business is all that matters for Torquay United

Results elsewhere have been pretty kind in the last couple of weeks, but it’s time for Torquay United to take care of their own business again when improving Maidenhead United come to Plainmoor on Saturday.

The surprise 1-0 defeat at Chippenham Town in midweek ended a seven-game unbeaten run for Paul Wotton’s table-topping Gulls.

United fans are still coming to terms with a match which United should hardly have drawn, let alone lost.

But Wotton has done his best to move everyone on, saying: “It was one of those nights.

“It doesn’t mean that we’ve won or lost the league. It’s a bump in the road.”

All systems are go on Valentine’s Day for United’s first home game for a month, which will provide much-needed help for the cash-flow.

The pitch is bound to be soft, but hopefully a bit flatter than one or two surfaces which the Gulls have encountered in recent weeks.

That should help their passing game in what will be a real test against a Maidenhead side up to eighth place and gunning for the Play-Offs.

At least the Chippenham defeat didn’t cost any more injuries.

Plymouth Argyle loanee Joe Hatch is out with a ‘dead leg’ sustained in training, and six weeks is still the likely absence for Jordan Dyer (hamstring).

Ed James is a versatile new option in defence after joining fellow Grecian Kieran Wilson on loan from Exeter City.

Wotton has hinted that one or two younger players may go out on loan soon, Sonny Fish and Matt Carson after spells at Folkestone Invicta and Taunton Town respectively.

Reserve goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott is also back from Tiverton Town, and the squad is still strong enough for Wotton to think about a another change or two in the wake of the Chippenham setback.

One point from seven games in the autumn, including a 2-1 win for the Gulls at York Road on November 8, prompted the resignation of long-serving Maidenhead manager Alan Devonshire and the promotion of assistant Ryan Peters.

The change seems to have worked - the last 12 matches have produced seven wins and three draws.

Maidenhead, relegated last season, are up to eighth place and, with Torquay, Maidstone, Worthing, Ebbsfleet, Dorking, Weston-super-Mare and Hornchurch all still on their schedule, they’re at least bound to have a big say in who does go up.

Two key players in defence and midfield are experienced duo Will De Havilland and ex-Dagenham and Woking favourite Matt Robinson, who scored the Magpies’ 94th minute winner at Tonbridge (1-0) on Tuesday.

There are two former Gulls in attack – centre-forward Josh Umerah and recent loanee Dillon De Silva from Sutton - plus the pace of Liam Dulson.

Dulson (10), Umerah (8) and Josh Popoola (7) have scored 25 goals between them.